Safe Leafy Greens Blog

Your Resource for Leafy Greens Food Safety

Food safety begins on the farm, but it doesn’t end there. This is something we say a lot at the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement. And, it’s true. That’s why we have created a brand new website designed to show what farmers in California are doing every day to make sure leafy greens are grown safely. Beyond that, the new site provides simple information on how consumers can safely shop, store and prepare leafy greens. We’re also throwing in some great information on the nutritional content of your favorite leafy greens varieties.

Our new website can be found at www.safeleafygreens.org. The website is designed for consumers – but also for professionals who communicate regularly with the public about food safety, health and nutrition.

We know that many retail grocery stores and foodservice operations offer their customers information and advice about health and safety issues. This website is a resource for whatever a consumer might want to know about leafy greens safety and nutrition. It includes information about everything from food safety at home to the story of how leafy greens go from the farm to the plate. The website also includes safe handling information from the Partnership for Food Safety Education. We’ve also developed consumer-friendly videos that specifically show how to safely shop for leafy greens and provide step-by-step instructions on how to clean, prepare and store leafy greens at home to prevent food-borne illness.

We also want consumers and health professionals to understand a bit about what goes into growing leafy greens. California produces about 70 percent of the leafy greens grown in the United States and people should know about the LGMA food safety program which verifies through mandatory government audits that leafy greens farmers are following a set of science-based food safety practices on their farms.

We’ve also worked with a registered dietitian to provide a comprehensive guide to the nutritional content of the different leafy greens varieties produced under the LGMA food safety program. To our knowledge, this is the first time this information has been available in one easy-to-use spot. The site also features a blog which will bring readers information related to leafy greens and food safety or nutrition. Retail and foodservice dietitians can also sign up to receive quarterly e-updates.

So, please check out www.safeleafygreens.org now! We encourage you to share it with your friends and customers – that’s what it’s for. The farmers who make up the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement are proud of their product. They want you to know about their commitment to food safety and to give you the facts you need to make sure leafy greens stay safe all the way to your table.